Knives: What Do You Carry?

[Uplander]

How many people carry, or even use, a pocketknife nowadays? I’ve had a small knife in my pocket nearly every day for the past 25 years – the same one…. Given to me by my father when I turned 10, that d**n knife has gutted innumerable brook trout, partridge, and woodcock. Practically every piece of mail I’ve ever received has been opened by it. Back in the pre-9/11 days, it traveled all over the world with me – cutting baguette and cheese on the streets of Paris, papaya and coconut in the jungles of Central America, etc. I know every scratch, ding, and dent that mars its surface.

It’s just a small, old Case pocketknife, nothing fancy. But, my dad gave it to me when I was a little boy. That makes it priceless.

I would think that a pocketknife is an integral part of a trout fisherman’s gear, even if he or she practices strict catch and release.

What’s in your pocket?

[JoeOverlock]

I've carried a pocket knife ever since scouts. Mine is a small buck knife. It's more bulky than a Case knife, but I like the strength of it.

[Uplander]

Do you still have all the corners on your Totin' Chit?

[JoeOverlock]

I was trying to remember how to spell that.

I think I still have it in my attic somewhere, with all four corners in place. I only remember one kid loosing all four corners of his card.

I remember meeting a kid at camp that glued his into a plastic baseball card protector so no one could cut his corners

[jlibs]

Since I was a kid, I always loved knives. I still carry one, except for when I travel. I've had a Gerber lock-back knife for 20 years.

I read a Field and Stream article a couple of years ago on survival knives. They did a write up on several fancy looking rugged Bowie type knives for several hundred dollars, as you would imagine. They also highlighted a knife for $10-15 which they picked as their top choice. Of course, I had to buy one.

The knife they chose is called a Mora Knife. They are made in Sweden and they are sturdy with no frills. I bought some of my friends these knives too.

If you are interested, here is a site for them

www.swedishknives.com/760craft.htm

However, if you search on google, you can find more info. I'd even search on with Field and Stream website for the article. The criiteria for judging the best survival knife was clearly outlined and the winner was not arbitrary. Noles and other outdoor leadership programs rely on this knife. It's really great in the most basic and dependable sense.

JLIBS

[AgMD]

I prefer a knife of good carbon steel , but a steel knife will turn to rust in my pocket so I have had to content myself w/ a Swiss Army Knife in stainless. For the last few decades an original mil. issue style Swiss Army Knife w/ aluminum bolsters has been my regular pocket knife. Not a bad blade for stainless.
JLIBS -- Absolutly right on re: the Mora knives. I have some , in carbon steel. Simple, nicely made and awsom steel. I bought mine from Buckshots camps, but since have found Ragnars site . www.ragweedforge.com/SwedishKnifeCatalog.html
I was looking for a quality kitchen pairing knife and all I could find was crappy SS and serated junk. For just over $10 I bought a Erickson w/ the red plastic grip. Nicest kitchen knife I ever owned.
AgMD

[dragonma15]

I have to agree with AgMD. I prefer a good high carbon steel blade over a stainless. One of my hobbies includes bladesmithing. Mostly stock removal blades. But the one I used to carry around with all the time was made out of a high carbon rail road spike. Picked up the spike at the Westfield River. It wasn't a great knife, but it was mine. Unfortunatly, someone broke into my car a few years ago, now it is their knife. All the other spikes I have come across havent been high carbon, you can tell because it is stamped HC on the top.

But back to the question, I usually just carry a schrade or an old timer. They are cheap and easy to replace. Plus, they stand up to a beating pretty good.

-Gregg

[yashuone]

i always carry a pocket knife, it's an all-purpose tool and has proved itself invaluable time and time again. for many years i had a very nice benchmade tactical striker that a cared for like a child. my wife got it for me as a wedding present when we were on our honeymoon. unfortunately i purchased some shorts from old navy one day and the way the pockets were, they made the knife clip come off every time i sat down. i think it happened in the parking lot of petco and i was getting into the passenger side of my truck and when i sat down the knife clip was pushed out of the pocket of those d**n shorts and fell to the ground. by the time i realized it was gone (hours later) i retraced my steps but to no avail. i miss that knife. now a carry a much less expensive kershaw, ken onion design spring assisted knife. a very nice (and fun) knife in it's own right but it's no benchmade. the new kershaw knives are worth looking at if you're shopping around, very techy, and a good amount of knife for the $$$. The steel is softer than what i was used to but at least it sharpens quickly.

[JoeOverlock]

yashuone said:

The steel is softer than what i was used to but at least it sharpens quickly.

That's the thing that kills me about my Buck knife, the steel is so hard it takes about 10 times longer to get a good edge on it then it does my Gerber. But on the flip side, the knife on my Gerber Multi-tool has been broken for about 2 years now. The steel is so crappy on those blades it's a joke. The rest of the tool is tough as nails though.

[yashuone]

i like how uplander describes his knowledge of every ding and nick on his knife, i wish i could hold on to a knife that long

[JoeOverlock]

That's because he was a good Boy Scout

He can also start a fire with just that pocket knife and a wet leaf and knows tricks that would make MacGyver jealous.